The COVID-19 pandemic left more than destruction in its wake: it also sensitized millions of Americans to the need to scrupulously guard their personal hygiene. While sales of hand sanitizers and antibacterial wipes may have gone down as the COVID-19 pandemic fades from memory, the personal-care conditioning it brought about continues. Items like cold remedies,…

Restroom cleanliness and sanitation have long been key components of growing c-store sales, but the COVID-19 pandemic made these aspects of operations more important than ever before. The mission for c-store retailers now when it comes to their restrooms is to continue to create positive impressions in consumers’ minds — something many are doing via…

Anyone serving food has some amount of spoilage. But how much is too much? “Typically, we look for 8-12% in a program where hot grab-and-go offers make up 50% or more of the program,” said Sherryn Diamond, director of food service for High’s Stores in Baltimore, Md. “If you are providing a predominantly made-to-order (MTO)…

Energy drinks is among the fastest-growing beverage segments, as evidenced by its strength throughout the pandemic. As many of the major brands refined their strategies in response to consumer adjustments, energy drinks are experiencing a wider reach than ever before. Thus, energy drink consumers looking for functional energy will continue to find it in c-stores…

To sell more beer c-stores need to begin by knowing what their consumers are and aren’t looking for — which means keeping up with trends. In the wake of a red-letter year in COVID-ravaged 2020, beer sales dropped in 2021 as consumers returned to more or less normal life. In 2022, the same old brands…

Americans catered to their sweet tooths during the pandemic, and that — along with their learned preference for packaged items rather than fresh — will stand sweet snacks and granola bars in good stead in 2022. Cakes, pastries and sweet pies account for a sizeable portion of sales in the convenience store channel, expected to…

A bakery program can do wonders for a convenience store’s bottom line — with the caveat that it has to be done right, which takes experience and expertise. “Training is everything, and most operators don’t do enough, and rarely even budget for it,” said Rudy Miick, FCSI, a veteran foodservice consultant and principal of The…

C-stores face the old conundrum with both hard seltzer and ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktails: Consumers want old favorites, but they also want exciting new brands and line extensions. IRI numbers for the 52 weeks ending Dec. 26, 2021, show the hard seltzer category at c-stores with sales of more than $2.1 billion, an increase of 25.9%…

Energy shot sales are up, but competition in the segment remains fierce from a bevy of new product innovations as well as from energy drinks. Energy shots had a strong year in 2021, and while their growth in sales should continue in 2022, that pace is expected to slow to the 4-8% range, according to…

Salty snack demand has rebounded at convenience stores after facing sales dips early in the pandemic when store visits declined. Indeed, total salty snack sales rang in at just over $6 billion, rising by 12.1%, for the convenience store channel during the 52-week period ending Dec. 26, 2021, per IRI.  Within the salty snack category,…